Containers with decorative top closures



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CONTAINERS WITH DECORATIVE TOP CLOSURES I 1| II. ll Eqw @i mm W .t 3 TMNS c mm V w mw a m m Q s a 4 IF m 5 M Jane 2, 1970 Filed May 2, 1968ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,515,332 CONTAINERS WITH DECORATIVE TOPCLOSURES Irving Smith, Flushing, N.Y. Arrow Art Finishers, Inc., 1201Evergreen Ave., Bronx, N.Y. 10472) Filed May 2, 1968, Ser. No. 726,093Int. Cl. B65d /00, 5/10 US. Cl. 22938 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates tocontainers.

In particular, the present invention relates to containers made of arelatively rigid sheet material, such as paperboard, and adapted tocontain articles such as figurines, general merchandise, bottles fordispensing perfume or syrup, breakfast foods, and the like.

Although containers of this general type are well known and the art oftheir general construction is highly developed, they usually have aplain, unappealing exterior, and the closures thereof are sometimesdifficult to manipulate. Thus, conventional containers of this generaltype are not, except for two dimensional printed designs, particularlyattractive to prospective purchasers, particularly women and children.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of thepresent invention to provide a container of the above general type whichwill have a special appeal for prospective purchasers, particularlywomen and children.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container whichnot only will be attractive from an aesthetic standpoint but which willin addition have a certain entertainment value, for entertaining aprospective purchaser, in much the same way that a toy is entertaining.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a containerwhich has a closure which can be manipulated more conveniently thanconventional closures.

It is especially an object of the present invention to provide acontainer with a top closure which gives at least a pseudothree-dimensional representation of a given subject.

In accordance with the invention, the container has an endless sidewallcomposed of a ring of an even number of four or more paperboardrectangular panels interconnected by fold lines and having top andbottom ends. Top and bottom closures respectively close the top andbottom ends of the endless sidewall. The top closure includes at least apair of overlapping paperboard flaps which respectively have a pair ofmeans coacting with each other for providing at least a pseudothree-dimensional representation of a given subject. For this purposethe pair of flaps of the top closure are each provided with a pair ofopposed free side portions constituting the means thereof, the opposedfree side portions of each of these flaps being deflected away from thetop end of the side- 3,515,332 Patented June 2, 1970 wall and extendingangularly from a central region of the flap. To facilitate the angularpositioning of the free side portions of each flap with respect to acentral portion thereof, each flap is provided with score lines at thejunction between the central and the free side portions thereof whichfold lines have an angular upward set so that they will spring up to thedesired position even after having been held flat, i.e., coplanar withthe central region during packaging and shipping of numbers of suchfilled containers in a single carton.

Other objects of my invention in part will be obvious and in part willbe pointed out hereinafter.

My invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will beexemplified in the containers hereinafter described, and of which thescope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the configuration of a blank from which oneembodiment of a container of the invention can be made;

FIG. 2 is a top side perspective illustration of a closed containerformed from the blank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken along line 3-3 of FIG.2 in the direction of the arrows and showing the structure at a scalewhich is enlarged as compared to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation taken along line 44 of FIG. 2in the direction of the arrows and also showing the structure at a scalewhich is enlarged as compared to FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of another blank which may be used to formanother embodiment of a container according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a top side perspective illustration of the closed containerwhich is formed from the blank of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top side perspective illustration, on an enlarged scale ascompared to FIG. 6, showing how the top closure of the embodiment ofFIG. '6 appears at an intermediate stage during the closing thereof;

FIG. 8 is a top side perspective illustration of a further stage in theclosing of the top closure of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional elevation of the container of FIG. 6taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows andfragmentarily showing only the upper part of the container in a closedposition at a scale which is enlarged as compared to FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional elevation taken along line 1010 ofFIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows and also fragmentarilyillustrating only the upper part of the container in a closed positionand also at a scale which is enlarged as compared to FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a top side perspective illustration of yet another embodimentof a container according to the invention;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary illustration of that part of a blank whichincludes the top closure of FIG. 11 and the upper part of the side wallthereof;

FIG. 13 is a top side perspective illustration of a fur ther embodimentof a container according to the invention; and

FIG. 14 fragmentarily illustrates that portion of a blank which formsthe upper sidewall region and top closure of the container of FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, andfirst to FIGS. 1-4, the container 20, which is illustrated in FIG. 2, ismade from the blank 22, which is illustrated in FIG. 1. The entirecontainer 20, and thus the entire blank 22, are made of a relativelyrigid material, which preferably is paperboard. The container has anendless sidewall 24 which, in the illustrated example, is made up offour rectangular body panels 24a-24d. These panels are flat and byinterconnected laterally located fold lines 28b26d, in the manner shownin FIG. 1. The panel 24a has an additional outer lateral fold line 2611by which it is connected with an integral tab 28. This tab 28 overlapsand is adhesively secured to the inner surface of the panel 24d with thefold line 26a coinciding with the right free edge of the panel 24d, asviewed in FIG. 1. In this way the container 20 is provided with theendless sidewall 24. An empty container may be shipped in a flat, foldedcondition, 'with a stack of other empty containers, and in this foldedcondition the panels 24a and 24b can be located coplanarly beside eachother respectively overlying the panels 240 and 24d.

The endless sidewall 24, because it has four fiat rectangular panels24a-24d, and because opposite panels are of equal size and shape willprovide the container 20 with a horizontal cross-section which is squareor oblong.

Also, the endless sidewall 24 has top and bottom ends. The bottom end ofthe sidewall 24 is closed by a conventional bottom closure 30, while thetop end of the endless sidewall 24 is capable of being closed by a topclosure 32 constructed according to the present invention, as describedbelow.

The illustrated exemplificative conventional bottom closure is made upof flaps 30a30d respectively connected to the bottom edges of the panels24a-24d by colinear fold lines 34a-34a'. Thus, when the endless sidewall24 is opened (set-up to assume a tubular configuration, with the panels24a and 240 opposed and parallel to each other and extendingperpendicularly with respect to panels 24b and 24d, the flaps 30b and30d of the bottom closure 30 can be folded inwardly toward each otherinto overlying relationship closing the bottom end of the sidewall 24.Then the flaps 30a and 300 can be folded into overlying relationshipwith the tongue 36 of flap 30c extending through a slit 38 formed in theflap 30a, so that in this way the bottom closure can be releasablymaintained in its closed position shown at the lower portions of FIGS. 3and 4.

The top closure 32 of the invention includes, in the example of FIGS.1-4, four flaps 40a-46d respectively connected by colinear fold lines42a-42d to the top edges of the panels 24a-24d. The flaps 40b and 40dare respectively of the same size and shape as the flaps 30b and 30d andoverlie each other for completely covering the opening at the top end ofthe sidewall 24. Actually one of these flaps, such as the flap 40b, forexample, could be omitted. With the illustrated structure the flap 40dwill be located over the flap 4% so that the latter will be hidden underthe flap 40d. The flap 400 will then be situated over the flap 40d, andfinally the flap 40a will be located over the flap 400. Thus, the flaps40a and 400 may be considered respectively as outer and inner flaps ofthe outermost pair of flaps. The flap 40a terminates in an outerelongated free end portion 44 which extends through a slit 46 formed inthe panel 240 near its upper end, so that in this way the flap 40a alsoserves to retain the top closure 32 in its closed position.

In accordance with the invention, the pair of overlapping flaps 40a and400 respectively have a pair of means for providing at least a pseudothree-dimensional representation of a given subject. This means of theflap 40a is constituted by a pair of opposed free side portions 48a and4812, while the means of the flap 400 is constituted by a pair ofopposed free side portions 500 and 50b. The side portions 48a and 48bare separated from a central portion of the flap 40a by a pair ofparallel score lines 52a and 52b, while the side portions 500 and 501)are separated from a central portion of the flap 400 by a pair ofparallel score lines 5411 and 54b, respectively.

As is shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 4, the side portions 50a and 50bproject angularly from the central portion of flap 40c outwardly awayfrom the top end of the sidewall 24, and the side portions 48a and 48bof the flap 40a project angularly from the central portion thereof andextend away from the top end of the endless sidewall 24. Also, it willbe noted that the flap 400 is wider than the fiap 40a so that the sideportions 50a and 50b will respectively extend outwardly beyond the sideportions 48a and 48b and these further outwardly extending segments willbe clearly visible.

By reason of the fact that these free side portions of the pair ofoverlapping outermost flaps extend upwardly away from the top end of theendless sidewall 24, it is possible to achieve at least a pseudothree-dimensional representation of a given subject, which in theillustrated example is a flower having petals and leaves depicted on thefree side portions of the pair of flaps 40a and 400. In order to enhancethe three-dimensional effect and the entire appearance of the selectedsubject, the exterior surface of the third panel 40d, which is situateddirectly under the panel 400, has printed or otherwise provided thereonmarkings 56 which in the illustrated example rep resent leavesharmonizing with the representation of a flower derived from the flaps40a and 400. The threedimensional effect is enhanced when the scorelines 52a, 54a, and the score lines 52b and 54b are respectivelysubstantially in register when the top closure is assembled.

The top closure 32 of the invention thus has not only a pleasantaesthetic appeal, but in addition it has a certain entertainment valuebecause of the capability of the free side portions to move with respectto each other while returning to a position such as that indicated inFIG. 4 due to the inherent resiliency of the sheet material. In fact,when the containers of the invention are shipped with articles therein,which may be perfume bottles in the case of FIGS. 14, even if severalcontainers are located one upon the other, when the containers areunloaded the free side portions of the flaps 40a and 400 will reliablyspring to the position indicated in FIG. 4 due to the inherentresiliency of the sheet material. In addition. because of the manner inwhich these free side portions project from the top end of the sidewall,it is an exceedingly simple matter to grasp the outermost flap 40asecurely for the purpose of opening the container. It should bementioned that the so-called free side portions are those portions whosebases only are connected to the central portions of the flaps 40a and400, the remainder of the peripheries thereof being free.

That the invention is not limited to containers of square or oblongcross section is apparent from FIGS. 510 which illustrate an embodimentof the invention where the container is of hexagonal cross section. Asmay be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6, the container 60 of this embodiment,shown in FIG. 6, can be made from the blank illustrated in FIG. 5, andin this case also the entire container and blank from which it is formedare made of paperboard.

The blank 62, from which the container 60 is made, has a series of fiatrectangular body panels 64a64f respectively interconnected by laterallylocated fold lines 66a- 66e to form the tubular sidewall 64 of thecontainer 60. This tubular sidewall 64 is endless. For this purpose anouter lateral fold line 66 connects a tab 68 to the panel 64 and thistab 68 is adhesively secured to the inner surface of the panel 64a withthe fold line 66 coinciding with the left free edge of the panel 64a, asviewed in FIG. 5. When the blank is to be shipped in fiat condition, itmay be folded into a flat condition after the tab 68- has been securedto the panel 64a. Thus, in its fiat folded condition for bulk shipmentthe blank will have the panels 64a64c respectively overlying the panels64], Me, and 64d.

The bottom end of the sidewall 64 is closed by a bottom closure 70 whilethe top end is closed by a top closure 72 which has a structureaccording to the invention, as described in greater detail below.

The bottom closure 70, which is conventional, exemplificatively includesthe flaps 7011-70 respectively connected to the panels Ma-64f by thecolinear fold lines 74a-74f. The panels 70a and 700 are respectivelyformed at their edges which are directed toward each other with V-notches, and the panels 70d and 70 are also formed with V-notches attheir edges which are directed toward each other. In this way the flaps70b, We will have the illustrated hexagonal configuration for extendingcompletely across the bottom end of the associated panels 64b, 64erespectively of the endless sidewall 64. The flap 70b has a tongue 76 tobe received in a slit 7-8 in the flap 70e when the container is erected.

Thus, after the endless sidewall 64 is placed in its open (set up orerected) condition illustrated in FIG. 6, the closure flaps 70a and 70dcan be placed in mutually overlying relation and interlocked at theirV-notches, and then the closure flaps 70c and 70 can be placed inmutually overlying relation, and overlying the interlocked flaps 7 a,70d, and interlocked at their V-notches. Then the flap 70s is placed ina position extending across and covering the bottom of the endlesssidewall 64. Finally, the flap 70b is placed in a position overlappingthe exterior of the flap 70e with the tongue 76 extending through theslit 78 so as to retain the bottom closure 70in its closed position.

The top closure 72 of the invention includes the six flaps 80a-80frespectively connected to the panels 64a-64f by the colinear fold lines82a-82f. In this case, it is the flaps 80b and 80a which form the pairof outermost flaps of the assembled top closure 72 which are providedwith a pair of means, respectively, for giving at least a pseudothree-dimensional representation of a given subject, which in this casealso is a flower. The flap 80b constitutes the outer one of the pair offlaps 80b and 80e, while the flap 80a is the inner one of this pair offlaps. This outermost flap 80b terminates in a free end portion 84 whichin the fully assembled container extends through a slit 86 formed in thebody panel 64c in order to retain the top closure 72 in its closedposition.

The means of the flap 80b is constituted by a pair of opposed free sideportions 881: and 88b, while the means of the flap 80e is constituted bya pair of free side portions 90a and 80b. The free side portions 88a and8811 are connected to a central portion of the flap 80d by a pair ofparallel score lines 9211 and 92b perpendicular to the fold line 82b,while the free side portions 90a and 90b of the flap 802 are connectedto a central portion thereof by the parallel score lines 94a and 94bperpendicular to the fold line 82a. It is to be noted that in both ofthe embodiments thus far described when the top closure is in its closedposition the score lines of the outer flap are respectively aligned withthe score lines of the inner flap.

The flaps 80a and 800 are formed at their edges which are directedtoward each other in the blank of FIG. 5 with V-notches 96a and 960, andthe crests of the notches 96a and 960 are situated at the outer ends ofshort interlocking slits 98a and 980 formed in the flaps 80a and 800,respectively. [In the same way, the flaps 80d and 801 respectively areformed with V-notches 96d and 96 directed toward each other in the blankof FIG. 5, and the crests of these notches are situated at the outerends of relatively short interlocking slits 98d and 98 respectivelyformed in the flaps 80d and 80 Similar interlocking slits are providedon the flaps 70a, 70c, 70d and 70 The top closure 72 may be closed inthe manner indicated in FIGS. 7 and 8. Thus, the flaps 80c and 80f arefirst infolded and interlocked with each other in the manner shown inFIG. 7, and then the flaps 80d and 80a are infolded and interlocked witheach other, extending across the flaps 80c and 801 in the manner shownin FIG. 8. Then the flap 80a is folded across the top end of to the foldlines '82e the free side portions 90a and b of the flap 80'e projectangularly upwardly from the elongated central portion of this flap 80ewhich is situated between the score lines thereof, and these free sideportions a and 90b will thus extend upwardly away from the top end ofthe sidewall 64 in the manner shown most clearly in FIG. 10. In the sameway, the free side portions 88a and 88b of the outermost flap 80bproject upwardly at the score lines 92a and 9211 which are perpendicularto the fold line 82b, away from the central portion of flap 80b which issituated between the score lines thereof. These free side portions 88aand 88b will also extend upwardly away from the top end of the endlesssidewall 64 and will respectively overlie the free side portions 90a and90b of the immediately underlying flap 802. However, it will be notedthat the side portions 88a and 88b are respectively upwardly spaced fromthe side portions 90a and 90b, so that the exterior surfaces of thelatter side portions 90a, 9012 will be visible :behind the side portions88a and 88b.

Thus, it is possible in this case also to achieve an entertaining andaesthetically appealing three-dimensional representation of a fiowerdespite the fact that the shapes and sizes of the free inclined sideportions 88a and 8812 are the same as the shapes and sizes of the freeinclined side portions 90a and 90b respectively. The score lines 92a and92b are in substantial registry with the score lines 94a and 94b whenthe container 60 is erected. In addition, it will be noted that theoutwardly extending free side portions of the flap 80b facilitatesgrasping of this flap in order to make the opening of the container veryconvenient. The pseudo three-dimensional eflect which is achieved withthe structure of the invention is particularly apparent from FIG. 6,while FIG. 10' illustrates how the free side portion 88a of theoutermost flap 8% extends away from the top end of the endless sidewall64. FIG. 9 shows clearly how the free end portion 84 of the outerrnostflap coacts with the slit '86 of panel 64 to retain the top closure 72in its closed position.

The portions of the sundry top flaps visible when the container 60 isassembled are ornamented, as by printing, to resemble athree-dimensional object, e.g., a flower.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and12, the container is made from a blank 102 and also may consist in itsentirety of a relatively rigid sheet material, such as paperboard. Thecontainer 100 has an endless sidewall 104 composed of the flat panels104a-10'4d which give the container 100 the rectangular or squaretransverse cross section apparent from FIG. 11. The panels 104a104d areseparated by laterally disposed fold lines 106a-106c. A tab 108 isconnected by a fold line 106d to the panel 104d and is adhesivelysecured to the inner surface of the panel 104a with the fold line 106dcoinciding with the free left edge of the panel 104a, as viewed in FIG.12. Thus, in this case also the container can be shipped in flatcondition with the panels 104a and 10% respectively overlying the panels104d and 104e, after the tab 108 has been secured to the panel 104a.Except for the top closure 130 which closes the top end of the endlesssidewall 104, the structure of FIGS. 11 and 12 may be identical withthat of FIGS. 14, so that the lower portion of the blank of FIG. 12 andthe bottom closure are not illustrated.

In this embodiment the top closure 130 is made of the flaps 110a, 110b,and 11011 respectively connected by colinear fold lines 112a, 112b, and112d to the panels 104a, 10 4b and 104d, as illustrated in FIG. 12. Noflap is needed for the panel 104s. The liap 110a has a con- 7 figurationcorresponding substantially to the configuration of the top end of theendless sidewall .104, so that when this flap 11011 is folded to itsclosed position it will in itself substantially close the top end of theendless sidewall 104. This flap is lowermost in an assembled container100.

The flap 1101) forms the outermost one of the pair of outer flaps 11011and 110d, and it has a free end portion 114 adapted to extend through aslit 116 formed in the panel 104d for releasably retaining the topclosure 130 in its closed position, as shown most clearly in FIG. 11.

The flap 11Gb has a pair of free side portions 118a and 118b, while theflap 110d has a pair of free side portions 120a and 12011. The free sideportions 118a and 118b are connected to a central portion of the flap11% by parallel score lines 122a and 122k perpendicular to the fold line112b, while the free side portions 120a and 12% of the flap 110d areconnected to a central portion of the latter flap by parallel scorelines 124a and 124b perpendicular to the fold line 112d. The score lines122a and 12222 are substantially in register with the score lines 124aand 12417 when the container 100 is assembled.

Thus, after the flap 110a has been placed in its closed position, theflap 110d is folded downwardly at the fold line 112d so as to overliethe flap 110a, and then the outer flap 11% is folded down at the foldline 112]) as as to overlap and extend across the intermediate flap110d. The free side portions 120a and 12% of the flap 110d and the freeside portions 118a and 118b of the flap 110b form for these flaps,respectively, a pair of means that provides at least a pseudothree-dimensional representation of a given subject, which in theillustrated example is a group of Christmas figures. Thus, the flap 110bcarries, as by printing, a representation of the figure of a snowman,While the flap 110d has at its free side portions 120a and 12%representations, as by printing, of figures depicting carollers.

In this case also it is to be noted that the flap 110d is Wider than theflap 110b, so that the free side portions thereof will extend outwardlybeyond the free side portions of the flap 11012. Note also that therepresentation on the flap 11015 is inverted with respect to therepresentations on the flap 110d since on the assembled container theseflaps extend from opposite sides. In the closed position shown in FIG.11 the free side portions 118a and 118b project angularly upwardly fromthe central portion of flap 11% and extend away from the top end of theendless sidewall 104. These angularly extending free side portions 118aand 118b will respectively overlie the angularly upwardly extending freeside portions 120a and 12% which respectively extend from the centralportion of the flap 110d. These side portions 120a and 12% also extendupwardly away from the top end of the sidewall 104. Thus, in this casethe pair of means of the pair of flaps 110b and 110d provides at least apseudo three-dimensional representation of a group of figures.

In order to enhance the representation, the exterior surface of thethird flap 110a is provided with markings 126 representing, as byprinting, trees, so as to form a suitable background for the figures.

It will be seen that the representation on the flap 110a is 90 angularlydisplaced from that on the flap 1101; because the latter flap is 90 fromthe flap 11Gb in an assembled carton. In this case also an entertainingand aesthetically appealing top closure is provided, and the outwardlyextending free side portions of the pair of outer flaps will facilitatemanipulation of the top closure 130.

A further possible variation according to the invention is illustrted inFIGS. 13 and 14. In this case also the container 140 is made from ablank 142 of a relatively rigid material such as paperboard, and thecontainer 140 has a rectangular or square transverse cross section asindicated in FIG. 13. The container has an endless sidewall 144 made upof the panels 144a-144d which are separated from each other by laterallylocated fold lines 146a-146c, and a tab 148 is connected to the outerlateral edge of the panel 1440! by the fold line 146d. This tab 148 isadhesively secured to the inner surface of the panel 144a with the foldline 146d coinciding with the left edge of the panel 144a, as viewed inFIG. 14. In this case also the structure of the blank below the partthereof illustrated in FIG. 14 is identical with that of FIG. 1 andtherefore is not further illustrated.

The top closure 180 of this embodiment is made up of only threeimmediately adjacent flaps 1500, 150b, 150e, which are respectivelyconnected by colinear fold lines 152a, 152b, 1520 to the top ends of theadjacent panels 144a, 144b, 1440. The panel 144d has no top cover flap,the same not being needed.

The flap 150a has a configuration corresponding substantially to the topend of the sidewall 144 and will in itself substantially close this topend. The flap 1501) terminates in a wide freely extending tab 154 whichis adapted to be slipped just inside of the upper portion of the panel144d so as to frictionally retain the top closure 180 in its closedposition as illustrated in FIG. 13.

The pair of outer flaps 15% and 150c are respectively provided with apair of means for giving at least a pseudo three-dimensionalrepresentation of a given subject. In this case the subject is acaricature of a human head. Thus, the flap .150b has a pair of free sideportions 158a and 158b, while the flap 1500 has a pair of free sideportions 160a and 16011. The free side portion 160b is formed by anelongated curved slit 166 which passes through the flap 150C. The freeside portions 158a and 158b are interconnected with a central portion ofthe flap 15% by a pair of score lines 162a and 162b, respectively, thatare perpendicular to the fold line 152b, while the free side portions160a and 1601) of the flap 150c are interconnected with a centralportion thereof by the pair of score lines 164a and 1641; that areparallel to the fold line .152c; however these latter lines 164a, 164bwill, when the container 140 is assembled, be parallel to andsubstantially underlie the score lines 162a, 1621) since at this timethe body panels 144b, 144c are perpendicular to one another. The mannerin which the free side portion 1611b extends from an edge 168 of theslit 166 is particularly apparent from FIG. 13.

In order to provide the three-dimensional representation, in the exampleof FIGS. 13 and 14, the upper flap 15% is formed with a pair of eyeopenings 170a and 17Gb and with a mouth opening 172, while theimmediately underlying flap 1506 is provided with markings 174a, 1741)depicting eyes, and with markings 176 depicting teeth.

After the flap 150a is turned down to its closed position, the flap 1500is folded at the fold line 1520 to the closed position shown in FIG. 13.Then the outermost fiap 15% is folded at the fold line 15% down to itsclosed position, and the tab 154 is inserted just inside of the panel144d, frictionally engaging the inner surface thereof. With the flaps ofthe top closure 180 in this position the eye-representing configurations174a and 174b will respectively be visible through the openings 170a and17% and in alignment therewith, while the teeth-representing markings176 will be aligned with and visible through the mouth opening 172. Thefree side portions 160a and 160!) are printed to represent hair whichforms an extension of hair 161 represented at the central region of thetab 150b, between the eye openings thereof and the panel 144b.

At the score lines 162a and 16217 the free side portions 158a and 158bof the panel 15Gb project angularly upwardly from the central portionthereof and extend away from the top end of the endless sidewall 144. Inthe same way, the free side portions 160a and 16% of the panel 1500project at the score lines 164a and 164b upwardly from the centralregion of the tab 150s and extend away from the top end of the endlesssidewall 144. With this construction, an exceedingly life-like,threedimensional representation of a human head is achieved. Thestructure is entertaining as well as aesthetically appealing.Manipulation of the top closure is facilitated by the outwardlyextending positions occupied by the free side portions of the pair ofouter flaps.

It has been found that with all of the embodiments of the invention, thespringy nature of the paperboard sheet material will result in automaticspringing of the free side portions of the pair of outermost flaps ofthe top closure outwardly away from the top end of the sidewall wheneverfilled erected containers are unloaded from a package in which arelatively large number of these containers may be situated with thelowermost containers bearing considerable weight on their top closures.

Also, it is to be noted that while the structure of the invention isexceedingly inexpensive to manufacture, it nevertheless is capable ofachieving a wide variety of diiferent effects. The various embodimentsof the invention described above and shown in the drawings areillustrative of some of the different ways in which it is possible forthe flaps of the top closure to coact with each other for achieving theeffects of the invention.

It thus will be seen that I have provided containers which achieve thevarious objects of my invention and which are well adapted to meet theconditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising, an endless sidewall of flat body panelshaving top and bottom ends, a bottom closure for closing said bottomend, and a top closure for closing said top end, said top closureincluding at least a pair of overlapping flaps respectively each havinga pair of means coacting with each other for providing athree-dimensional representation of a given subject.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said sidewall and closures areall made of a relatively rigid sheet material.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said sheet material ispaperboard.

4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said top closure includes athird flap situated beneath said overlapping flaps when the container iserected and by itself substantially closing said top end of saidsidewall, and said third flap extending beyond said overlapping flapsand having an exterior appearance which contributes to thethree-dimensional representation of said given subject.

5. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said means of each flapincludes a pair of opposed free side portions of each flap projectingupwardly from a central portion of each flap and extending away fromsaid top end of said sidewall.

6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said flaps are made of abendable sheet material and have score lines separating the opposed sideportions of each flap from said central portion thereof and effectingdeflection of said side portions of each flap away from said top end ofsaid sidewall.

7. The combination of claim 6 and wherein said flaps constitute an outerflap and an inner flap situated in back of said outer flap.

8. The combination of claim 6 and wherein the score lines of said outerflap respectively are substantially in alignment with the score lines ofsaid inner flap.

9. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said inner fiap is wider thansaid outer flap and has said side portions thereof extending outwardlybeyond said side portions of said outer flap.

10. The combination of claim 9 and wherein said outer flap carries arepresentation of a given figure, and said side portions of said innerflap, where they extend beyond said outer flap, carrying representationsof additional figures, so that said pair of means coact to provide athree-dimensional representation of a group.

11. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said outer flap carries arepresentation of part of a human head and is formed with eye openings,and said inner flap having representations of eyes situated behind andvisible through said eye openings of said outer flap.

12. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said outer flap is formedwith a mouth opening and the inner flap has a representation of a mouthpart situated behind and visible through said mouth opening.

13. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said inner and outer flapscarry representations of flower petals.

14. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said outer flap terminates ina free end portion overlapping said endless sidewall and releasablyconnected thereto for releasably holding said top closure in a closedposition.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,899,241 2/1933 Marr 46111,941,538 1/1934 Costello 4611 1,982,780 12/ 1934 Behrens 229-8 XR2,396,010 3/1946 Isenberg 2298 2,467,702 4/1949 Smart 22938 XR 2,636,3134/1953 Shank 229-8 XR 2,823,844 2/ 1958 Frankenstein 229-8 3,153,50310/1964 Goldstein 2298 FOREIGN PATENTS 505,599 12/1954 Italy.

DAVIS T. MOORI-IEAD, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

